U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia ruled Wednesday that Texas’ ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional.

Garcia issued a preliminary injunction on the state’s ban, citing Supreme Court precedent. However, Garcia issued a stay on his order, meaning the ban will remain in effect pending appeal.

“Today’s court decision is not made in defiance of the great people of Texas or the Texas Legislature, but in compliance with the U.S. Constitution and Supreme Court precedent,” Garcia wrote in the order. “Without a rational relation to a legitimate governmental purpose, state-imposed inequality can find no refuge in our U.S. Constitution.”

Mayor Fulop Triples Annual Number of Park Projects with Nearly $6 Million in 2014 Investments; Renovations to 13 Parks Across All Wards & Accelerated Construction of Berry Lane Park

JERSEY CITY – Mayor Steven M. Fulop announced today that Jersey City will triple the annual number of park projects and invest nearly $6 million in city parks in 2014, with renovations to13 parksacross all wards using a combination of capital dollars and grant funding to improve both the quality of life and expand recreational opportunities for residents.

The City will invest approximately $2.65 million of capital funds from the 2014 budget and will utilize $1.475 million of Green Acres funding, as well as $435,000 in Hudson County Open Space dollars. The City will also utilize $1.3 million of Green Acres funding to acquire the final parcels of lands to complete Berry Lane Park in Bergen-Lafayette.

“Investing in parks in urban areas is key to improving the quality of life for residents and to making Jersey City the best mid-size city in America,” said Mayor Fulop. “Since we took office we have been restructuring our recreation department and expanding opportunities and programming. The next step is improving our parks so that all of our families throughout the city have safe and enjoyable places for both passive and active recreation.”

Berry Lane Park is an ambitious project will ultimately transform more than 17 acres of property – including former rail yards, junkyards, auto repair shops, industrial facilities, and warehouse – into a recreational amenity in the heart of the Bergen-Lafayette community. When complete, the project will result in a nine percent increase in the amount of recreational open space in Jersey City.

During summer 2013, the first phase of environmental remediation grading, demolition, and drainage installation was completed. The administration is moving quickly and Phase II, which includes the installation of new curbs and sidewalks along Woodward Street, along with an additional parking lane, is currently underway.

In the spring, the City will commence on the building out of the majority of the park – Phase III – which will include two basketball courts, two tennis courts, a baseball field, a soccer field, and a playground. These active recreation components will provide opportunities to this neighborhood where more than 60 percent of residents are children under 18 years of age.

Additional passive recreation areas – including a total of 600 new trees a rain garden – will also be included in the park. In November, 73 trees were planted and another 100 will be planted in the fall with the remainder being planted as the park is constructed. The park’s design also considered existing site features that were incorporated into the design.

For example, existing concrete silos, remnants of the former rail yard, will be outfitted with water spraying mechanisms and will serve as a spray park for children and their parents.

“Creating and maintaining quality open space in densely populated urban areas is paramount for well-rounded, healthy living and for the safety of our families,” said Jersey City Parks Coalition President Laura Skolar. “The creation of Berry Lane Park will transform more than 17 acres of former industrial property into a vibrant recreational facility. Equally important is the upgrading and maintenance of our neighborhood parks, and the JC Parks Coalition looks forward to working with Mayor Fulop on all of these exciting park projects.”

In addition to Berry Lane Park, which will be a newly created park in the heart of Ward F, the twelve parks slated for renovations are the following:

PARKS IMPROVEMENTS:

Berry Lane Park, Ward F,17 acres of park space that will include two basketball courts, two tennis courts, a baseball field, a soccer field, and a playground, as well as a passive recreational area with a rain garden.

Mary Benson Park, Ward E, which will see the installation of new playground equipment, new fencing, new benches, and landscaping and site remediation.

Leonard Gordon Park, Ward C, which will see the replacement of vandalized playground equipment.

In New Mexico, a photographer declined to take pictures of a lesbian couple’s commitment ceremony. In Washington State, a florist would not provide flowers for a same-sex wedding. And in Colorado, a baker refused to make a cake for a party celebrating the wedding of two men.

The business owners cited religious beliefs in declining to provide services celebrating same-sex relationships. And in each case, they were sued.

Now, as states around the nation weigh how to balance the rights of same-sex couples with those of conservative religious business owners, Gov. Jan Brewer of Arizona must decide whether to sign legislation that would allow business owners to cite religious beliefs as a legal justification for denying service to same-sex couples.